Trey Gowdy

official U.S. Congress photo of Trey Gowdy c. 2016

Birth Name: Harold Watson Gowdy III

Place of Birth: Greenville, South Carolina, U.S.

Date of Birth: August 22, 1964

Ethnicity: English, some German and Swiss-German, likely some Welsh

Trey Gowdy is an American attorney, politician, and federal prosecutor. A Republican, he was a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina, from January 3, 2011 to January 3, 2019, Chair of the House Benghazi Committee, from May 8, 2014 to July 8, 2016, and Chair of the House Oversight Committee, from June 13, 2017 to January 3, 2019.

Trey is the son of Novalene (Evans) and Harold Watson “Hal” Gowdy, Jr. He is married to Terri Dillard, with whom he has two children.

Trey’s paternal grandfather was Harold Watson Gowdy (the son of Simon Watson Gowdy and Cora Rickenbaker). Harold was born in South Carolina. Simon was the son of Benjamin Lawrence Gowdy and Adeline James. Cora was the daughter of Fuller Thompson Rickenbaker and Pauline E. Able.

Trey’s paternal grandmother was Edred Truesdale (the daughter of Charles Hill Truesdale and Bessie Florence Crouch). Charles was the son of Benjamin Trantham Truesdale and Laura Horton. Bessie was the daughter of The Rev. John Calhoun Crouch and Cornelia Elizabeth Jane Sandifer.

Trey’s maternal grandfather was Tommie James Evans (the son of Jessie James Evans and Annie Elizabeth Mims). Tommie was born in South Carolina. Jessie was the son of Benjamin R. Evans and Martha Ann Cook. Annie was the daughter of Pinkney Wilson Mims and Mary Jane Floyd.

Trey’s maternal grandmother was Jessie Lee Cox (the daughter of John Richard Cox and Sara Jane Stone). Jessie was born in South Carolina. John was the son of William James Cox and Elizabeth Stone. Sara was the daughter of James Phillip Stone and Malinder Ellen Thomas.

Sources: Genealogy of Trey Gowdy (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com

Genealogies of Trey’s paternal grandparents, Harold Watson Gowdy and Edred Truesdale – https://old.findagrave.com

History of Trey’s Swiss Rickenbaker ancestors – https://ogsgs.org

Obituary of Trey’s maternal grandmother, Jessie Lee (Cox) Evans – https://www.legacy.com